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Ketamine and psilocybin for athletes: A therapeutic breakthrough or a slippery slope?

Thomas Zandonai, Sofia Venturini, Ornella Corazza

Performance Enhancement & Health November 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.peh.2025.100386 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Review Peer reviewed
Population Athletes
Topics Ketamine Psilocybin Esketamine
Keywords Hallucinogen Cognition Flexibility engineering Cognitive flexibility Anesthesia Pain relief Psychotherapist
Key findings Ketamine and psilocybin show promise for athlete recovery and pain management but raise safety and regulatory concerns, with limited evidence on long-term effects with exercise.

Abstract

• Ketamine and psilocybin show promise in athlete recovery and pain management. • Psychedelics may enhance resilience, mood, and cognitive flexibility in sports. • Growing athlete use raises concerns for safety and anti-doping regulation. • Evidence on long-term effects with exercise remains scarce, urging research.

Comparable studies

Other narrative reviews on psilocybin, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population 2019 Integrative review
The pharmacology of psilocybin 2002 Review
Serotonin research: contributions to understanding psychoses 2008 Review
Psychedelics, Meditation, and Self-Consciousness 2018 Review
The abuse potential of medical psilocybin according to the 8 factors of the Controlled Substances Act 2018 Review

Citations in the library

Cites 4

Related reading

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Ketamine Psilocybin Esketamine